Chop Suey Books

In the middle of Carytown hides a great book store with new and used books. The staff is knowledgeable and helpful. There is a great upstairs (where the used books hide) and currently they have an art installation that enhances the charm and mystery of the place. There is a sweet resident cat who keeps an eye on place. There is a place for you to pick up «mystery» books with different themes. In a world of big box book stores this is great place to step back, take your time, browse the shelves are enjoy the beauty of books (and support local business!).

It doesn’t matter what I say about Chop Suey. It’s all already been said. When I first moved to RVA, I lived closer to another locally owned independent bookstore. And, I tried to make that one «my» bookstore. But there’s no beating Chop Suey. The owner is locally famous, and for good reason. He’s cool, interesting, and on the right side of most things (as judged by me). The selection is impressive. The upstairs and back room collections have personality (e.g. a classics section that makes no sense but is so much fun to comb through). He presently has a signed edition of a Langston Hughes book that I’m dying to own. I’m working on it. Most importantly, the store is what bookstores are supposed to be. it is a PLACE. It is a destination and a hub. It is a community. I have met some of the best humans at the book signings. A good place attracts good people. More practically, it is simply easier to park in Carytown than it is Shockhoe Slip, which is saying a lot. And, you can make an evening of a store event by grabbing food and shopping.

When I’m on business trips, I try to stop at one used bookstore at least. Sometimes I’m disappointed by a low-​grade of stock or a narrow spectrum of topics, but this store impressed me. I even bought a couple of books!

Great selections. I sat across the street in a restaurant for about an hour before I wandered in. I was surprised at the massive amount of people who frequented this book store on a Sunday late afternoon. They sure do get a lot of patronage.

Ward and co. have created a welcoming and easy to navigate book buying world. The used stock is always ample, in great condition, and priced fairly. The first floor and it’s inventory of new releases/​reissues is different nearly every time I visit! Can’t find something you’re looking for? They’ll order it for you.
Can’t speak highly enough of the staff. Have a question about a release? Need a recommendation? 100% attention, zero pretension. That keeps me coming back.
There’s a cat, too. He’s a cat!
amazon sucks

The bottom floor is normal priced books, the upstairs are old, new, and used books. The prices are decent and the selection is amazing.
There is a little craft boutique joint upstairs where everything is overpriced, but it’s neat.

If Chop Suey was human, I’d have a massive crush. (It’s already hard enough having to restrain myself from going in there on a daily basis!) Unbelievably helpful staff, unmatched prices on used items, fun store to discover or rediscover some of the best books.

A terrific experience. This is the kind of bookstore in which you can ask a random salesperson, «Where would I find Kapuscinski,» and the learned salesperson responds without hesitation, «African history.» Barnes & Noble this is decidedly not, in that, frankly, Chop Suey Books’ selection is far more impressive, its employees are friendly and knowledgeable, and the store exudes personality. It is very well curated, with mainstream fiction and nonfiction sections, as well as more off-​the-​map sections, like the «Black Lives Matter» section. Nothing is too obscure.
Although I’m based in Philadelphia, I always make a point to check out Chop Suey’s inventory. This time, I got an uncorrected proof of Paul Auster’s The Music of Chance in fine condition, a first edition, second printing of Eugenides’ The Virgin Suicides, and The Shadow of the Sun by Ryszard Kapuscinski. Every section, from Economics to Art Books to True Crime to World History was well-​stocked and well-​organized. The joy of the store for bibliophiles is seeing how well-​curated it is — what the staff have paired together on displays and tables. I was consistently surprised by the rare and unusual editions — especially in the literature section. Chop Suey spans two floors and multiple spacious rooms with hardwood floors.
The best bookstore in Richmond? Yes. If you are not from the area, make it a destination, and grab lunch at Coppola’s Deli across the street.

Awesome book store with used and new books. I found tons of really great cookbook choices. There are tons of vegetarian and vegan books. I am neither of those, but I enjoy a great veg head book because they teach us carnivores how to do some fun and innovative stuff with our veggies. It is always nice to have fun with your food.
The store is really loaded with great finds. My little cousin was thoroughly entertained with some great fashion mags while I went to the second level to peruse the foreign language section. It was a bit college-​y, which is why I didn’t get anything there. It was clearly stuff from a class, rather than stuff for leisure language enthusiasts. There is really something for everyone here, and the used stuff is at a reasonable price. I was thoroughly satisfied with my purchase, Vegan Soul Kitchen by Bryant Terry. Chop Suey is always a never fail, fun place to stop in and find a new friend to take home.
My only complaint is that the price for new books is pretty high, which is why I rarely get them from there. That piece really isn’t that big of an issue for me because I find the store’s charm to be all in the used book section anyway.

What a fabulous find. Just walking down Cary Street and found this amazing bookstore when we saw their Black Lives Matter sign on the door. We went in and I settled for about an hour with a great selection of feminist authors I’ve been meaning to read. They also have the cutest shelf with wrapped up books to choose for a «blind date», only revealing the type of book and another title you might find similarly wonderful. Cool concept, and I would do it all the time if I lived in the area.
There were four of us walking around that day, and everyone found something that totally fit. We loved the store and it was a great detour from our walk down Cary Street!

In Which I Took a Blind Date With A Novel.
Paper parcels entwined with hemp string and a little love note. You never know where that love will take you or what will come of it.
Orrr have a short term love affair with a ONS ;)
The cutest concept I’d ever seen in a while and I just about squealed in delight before squealing again at the cutest cat behind me. His name is Won Ton and he will politely lick his paws whilst ignoring you. He can be a little spicy and 100% adorable.
Quite possibly the best used bookstore I’ve been in. Cute without being kitschy or trying too hard, amazing curation of books, and very reasonable prices (a dollar or three more expensive than the cheapest used Amazon books).
The only cons were not too much labeling in what section the books belonged to, and possibly the cashier ringing me up — seemed very lackluster. I still love CS and will keep coming back.

This was such a great used bookstore (although they sold new books on the first floor). Multiple floors with a lot of room to walk around and browse. Well organized alphabetically and with little collections of books here and there that made you stop and snatch one or two. Will definitely drop by whenever I’m passing through Richmond.

My favorite used bookstore anywhere — because they don’t just take anything. You won’t find mountains of books no one really wants here, like you often do at other used bookstores, because Chop Suey is careful about what they purchase and put on their shelves. I have purchased so many great titles here, including some obscure/​important ones in a multitude of genres. Plus, their inventory is always changing, so repeat visits are important if you are an avid reader — and any excuse I can find to go there and browse, I will. My only complaint is that their labeling system could be improved. In some instances, you don’t know which section you are looking in, which can sometimes make it hard to find a specific author or title.

Such a wonderful bookstore! All the books you’re looking for, and a HUGE selection of used titles. It’s a very welcoming store with a helpful staff; you could spend hours looking through titles in this cozy house turned shop. I absolutely love this place!

Hands down the best bookstore in Richmond. I could get lost in here for hours! The upstairs section has some amazing books on all kinds of subjects and the prices are awesome. They have a huge variety of new and used books and allow you to sell your old ones for ¹⁄₃ of the shelf price.
The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. One of my favorite spots in Richmond!

Chop Suey is the sort of place not only with something to please everyone, but with something to actually delight and thrill everyone. It does what is almost impossible: something one person likes does not cancel out what another person may be interested in. If I was writing an analytic breakdown of what makes a good bookstore, I’d have to point to Chop Suey as the only place which combines so many different elements and keeps them in perfect balance.
There’s books for those who want what just came out, and those who want used books. There’s displays for those who like that, and simple, unadorned rooms with big glass windows upstairs for straightforward browsing. There’s terrific art books and children’s books, gardening and cooking. The downstairs feels intimate, the upstairs has room opening upon room (and I think there’s even some new rooms; at least, I hadn’t noticed them on earlier visits). There’s kitschy collectibles and heavyweights.
Most importantly, to myself, is their history and philosophy section. It’s incomparably great. That’s my measuring rod, and the first time I walked into Chop Suey I thought they had so much other great things going on that it seemed a long shot to find what I was seeking. Additionally, a good history and philosophy section is, at the best of times, extremely difficult to pull together. But whoever is curating is doing an impeccable job. It’s one of the best sections I’ve seen and I purchase a few books from there every time, and have a list of other one-​day books.
Chop Suey is a good reason to live in Richmond, is what I am trying to say. Not just live in Richmond; move to Richmond. Is my husband reading this? This is what I am trying to say!

The store itself is fantastic. Unfortunately, the staff was unbelievably rude. The employee with a red beard approached me as I was looking through a book that I was going to buy for a friend. He told me that it was for sale and that the store wasn’t a library. He then proceeded to take the book and ask me to leave. I wasn’t doing anything rude and will not go back to the store. It is a shame because it was a great book store.

This is a super neat place! It’s definitely my favorite bookstore in Richmond. They almost always have the book I’m looking for. The staff is really laid back and helpful.
AND it smells really good. I mean that in the least creepy way possible. Used book stores are often dusty. Chop Suey is clean as a whistle.

Great bookstore in Carytown with lots to offer. This is the best place to buy used books at a great price. It’s not a great place to buy new books, because the price is way too high. You can get new books on Amazon for much cheaper.

Great selection, good prices, well-​organized, and a friendly store cat as well! One of the nicest bookstores I’ve seen in recent times. If I lived nearby, I’d be here every week.